Cinematic wisdom: Film and biblical wisdom literature

This chapter examines how certain films relate to, and function as, cinematic wisdom because of their affinity with central motifs in biblical wisdom texts. The films The Tree of Life and To The Wonder are placed into dialogue with the book of Job, and the film Moulin Rouge! is considered in light of Song of Songs. A brief examination of the films Fight Club, American Beauty, and About Schmidt illustrates how they can function as parables of alternative wisdom, or narratives of disorientation.